December Garden Chores

December 27, 2011

Irrigation: Check for leaks, broken heads and broken pipes. Try to water in the morning only to avoid fungal problems. You should water new plants daily for the first 2 weeks and then 2 times a week until the wet season begins in June.

Planting: Most annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables can be planted now. Bulbs and woody plants can be planted. A good water supply is necessary for irrigation until the wet season.

Pruning: Roses can be pruned now. You should remove dead wood, crossing branches, and sucker growth from trees and shrubs.

Pests: Spider mites are a major pest to watch for. The most serious pest now is spiral whitefly, which attacks almost anything with smooth leaf undersides -- ficus, gumbo limbo, traveler palm and coconut palms are favorites. Trees turn white and then black from the damage. Sooty mold caused by the sucking insects turns furniture cars, and anything underneath the trees black. The infestation is most serious in beach communities.

Injections of Imidacloprid systemic insecticide into the tree offer protection for 8 to 9 months. The advantage of the injection is that there is no danger of water pollution or spray drift. Whitefly predators will be minimally affected. This is critical along the windy beach areas. Results are noticeable within two weeks.

Soil drenching is another option but water pollution can be a problem as the product is not totally absorbed. Palms have one injection point and hardwood trees are injected at 2 inch spacing at root flares. Check with your pest control service to see if they offer this treatment option.